Plate hook



May 1, 1934.

J. w. MERRIAM 1,957,107

PLATE HOOK Filed Nov. 25, 1952 2 sheets-sheet 1 May l, 1934 I J. w. MERRIAM 1,957,107

PLATE HOOK Filed Nov. 23, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May l, 1934.

UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The present invention is directed to a novel plate hook or clamp particularly designed for use in securing printing plates to printing blocks or bases.l

Some of the principal objects are as follows:

1. To provide a clamp that can be inserted and removed without any tool or instrument.

2. To provide a clamp that has a long life, is inexpensive to manufacture and simple in construction.

3. To provide a clamp that permits almost microscopic adjustment of the plate so that perfect register can be secured.

4. To provide a clamp that can be used with either diagonal or cross grooved bases or blocks.

5. To provide a clamp with the screw so secured therein that it cannot work out.

6. To provide a novel form of plate engaging member.

7. To provide a clamp wherein the plate engaging member cani-ot work loose.

3. To provide a clamp that permits the plate to be quickly set up and registered.

9. To provide a clamp that can be dropped into any position in any groove in the base or block.

10. To provide a clamp that can be removed with the fingers alone.

11. To provide a clamp that can adapted to any form of groove.

12. To provide a clamp that can be inserted or removed without disturbing plates that are closely adjacent each other.

13. To provide a clamp that does not require that the margins of the plates be some particular distance from the grooves of the block.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the description taken in connection with the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a block showing a plate secured thereto by clamps constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a clamp or hook constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional View showing the position of the locking key when it is turned laterally;

(C1. lOl-386) Figures 8 and 9 are sectional elevations taken on the lines 8 8 and 9 9, respectively, of Fig. 3;

Figures 10 and 11 are sectional views similar to Fig. 4, showing two modied forms of the invention; and G0 Figure 12 is an elevation showing a tool used in connection with the clamp.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the same reference characters indicate like parts in the diiferent views, the numeral 10 indicates a print- 65 ing block or base provided with grooves 11 in which the clamps or hooks are disposed for the purpose of securing the plate P in proper position on the block. These grooves, so far as the present invention is concerned, may be of any of the wellknown forms. As shown in the present instance, each groove is bounded by the top vertical walls 2, short horizontal Walls 13 that form shoulders with the walls 12, the downwardly converging walls 14, the short vertical walls 15, and the bottom walls 16.

The clamp or hook constructed in accordance with the present invention which is adapted to be disposed in the groove, in its present preferred form, consists of a support or frame 17 having 80 an opening 17 extending therethrough from side to side. Extending vertically across this opening is a screw 18 which is rotatably mounted in the upper and lower parts of the frame. At its lower end the screw is provided with the shoulder 19 85 and a reduced cylindrical part that rotates in the frame 17. The lower end of the screw is riveted over, as indicated at 20, in order that the screw may be held from axial movement. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the upper end of the 9o screw is formed with a part 21 adapted to be engaged by the notch 21' at one end of the tool T for the purpose of turning the screw.

Threaded on the screw is a locking key or dog 22. As shown in Fig. 3, in side elevation this locking key is substantially rectangular. However, in order' that the top locking surfaces may properly engage with the Walls 13 of the grooves, diagonally opposite parts of the key are beveled or slabbed off as is indicated at 23 10o and 24. This permits the surfaces 23 and 24 to contact substantially throughout their area with the converging side walls 14 of the grooves.

The plate engaging member of the clamp comprises a disk 30 eccentrically mounted for rota- 105 tion on the support 17 in any suitable manner. As shown in the drawings, one method of accomplishing this consists in the provision of a short sleeve 31 integral with the frame 17 and projecting upwardly from the top thereof. When first formed, the outer surface of this sleeve is cylindrical. The disk 30 is provided with an eccentrically located aperture which is slightly conical. In assembling the device, the sleeve 31 is inserted in this conical aperture and then the sleeve is expanded as by being spun until its periphery contacts with the surface of the aperture in the disk, whereupon the disk will be held against axial movement but still permitted to rotate around the axis of the screw. The disk is also provided with a square aperture 32 for a purpose presently to be described. The plate engaging surface of the disk may be of any form that will coperate with the edge of the plate being fastened. As shown in the drawings, this plate engaging surface 33, or periphery of the disk, is conical to cooperate with the beveled edges of the plate.

In assembling one of these clamps, the disk is rst rotatably secured to the support in the manner previously described. Then the locking key is held in the opening of the frame and screw 18 screwed through the same, and iinally the end of the screw is beaded over as indicated at 20 but not in such a manner as to prevent easy rotation of the screw.

In the modied form of the invention shown in Fig. 10, the plate engaging member or disk is directly and rotatably mounted on the screw. As shown in said Fig. 10, the screw is provided with a cylindrical portion 41 which nts between the walls 12 of the narrow part of the groove. This portion is provided with the sleeve 42 which is spun into the disk in the manner described in connection with the rst form of the invention. The locking key 22 is of the same form as previously described and is held against possibility of being screwed oi the screw by a collar 43 at the lower end of the screw.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 11 comprises a support which is rectangular in plan and is adapted to nt between the walls l2 of the grooves. The screw 51 is rotatably mounted in the support and for this purpose is provided with the cylindrical portion 52. Collars 53 and 54, one of which is integral with the screw and the other pinned thereon, hold the same against axial movement. The support 50 is provided with the sleeve 55 which is spun into the disk in the manner previously described. The locking key 22 is of the same form as described in connection with the other modifications and after being screwed onto the screw 5l may be kept from screwing oif the same by a collar 56 pinned to the screw at its lower end.

In using the clamps of this invention, the plate is mounted on the base or block 10 and then the clamps are inserted into the grooves at the places it is desired to hold the plate to the block. The clamps can be inserted with the locking key either parallel with an edge of the plate or perpendicular thereto. Thus at A is shown a clamp with the locking key perpendicular to the edge of the plate, whereas at B, Fig. l, the locking key is parallel to the edge of the plate. After the clamps have lbeen inserted in the grooves, the screws 18 are manipulated by the tool T to rotate the locking key slightly and to raise its top surface into engagement with the shoulders 13. This locks the clamp against motion in any direction. After thus properly locking the clamps in the grooves, each plate engaging member or disk 30 is rotated -by means of the squared ends 60 on the cross bar of the tool T inserted in hole 32, so that the beveled surface of the disk engages the edge of the plate and in effect becomes wedged between said edge and the bearing for the disk on the clamp. Because of the eccentric mounting of the disk, it can be very rmly and securely forced into Contact with the beveled edge of the plate. Furthermore, locking engagement can be secured although the edges of the disks are not always the same distance from the axis of the screw. Thus, as shown at A in Fig. 1, the axis of the disk is about as far as it can be positioned away from the adjacent edge of the plate, whereas at C the disk has only been rotated a fraction of its possible movement. It is obvious that with this construction that the plate can be registered most accurately.

When it is desired to withdraw one of the clamps, it is only necessary, by means of the tool, to turn the screw 18 in the direction to unlock the locking key, then the clamp as a whole can be moved away from the plate, thereby disengaging the disk therefrom, and thereafter can be lifted out of the groove with the ngers, no tool being required for this purpose.

Although three forms of the invention have been described in detail, it is to be understood that it is not limited to these particular constructions but includes modifications and changes which come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A plate holding clamp comprising, in conibination, a support having an opening thereto from side to side, a member mounted for rotation in said support but held against axial movement and extending vertically across said opening, the part of the member in said opening being threaded, a groove engaging locking key mounted on the threaded part of said member, the top r of said member being formed te be rotated by a tool, and a plate engaging member carried by the top of said support.

2. A plate holding clamp in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plate engaging member is an eccentrically mounted disk.

3. A plate holding clamp comprising, in cornbination, a screw and groove engaging locking key threaded on said screw, the upper end of the screw being shaped to be rotated by a tool, and a rotatable eccentrically mounted disk having its periphery formed to cooperate with an edge of the plate.

4. A cla-mp according to claim 3 wherein the disk is moimted on the upper end of the screw.

5. A plate holding clamp comprising, in combination, a support adapted to be disposed in a groove of a block, a vertical member carried by said support for rotation only, a groove engaging locking key threaded on said member, and a f plate engaging member rotatably and eccentrically mounted on the top of said support and having its periphery formed to cooperate with an edge of the plate.

5. In combination, a base of grooves, each groove being bounded near the top by two spaced vertical walls, then two horizontal walls forming shoulders .at the intersections with the vertical walls, then two walls conhaving a plurality 'j .L

verging downwardly, and a bottom wall, and a jf., plate holding clamp having a locking key includ- Y ing a quadrangular prism having portions of two opposite sides slabbed off to t against said converging walls of the grooves.

JEAN W. MERRIAM. 

